From 2018 B.C. to 1843 B.C. Abraham

In 2018 B.C. in the southern part of Babylonia, a man named Abraham was born who, in contrast with the people around him, had absolute faith in JHWH and devoted his entire life to serving his creator. He was born in the town of Ur, situated on the spot where the Euphrates and the Tigris come together. JHWH decided to use this man to make for Himself a people with whom He would develop a very special relationship. In the course of Abraham's life, JHWH appeared to him several times. In the first time, He ordered Abraham to leave Ur and Babylonia and move to a country which He would show him at the end of his journey. On this occasion, He also promised Abraham that He would make him the patriarch of a numerous and very important nation. Without any hesitation, Abraham began his long journey with his wife Sarah, his elderly father Terah, and his nephew Lot. They traveled about 1,000 kilometers in a northwestern direction to the town of Haran. They stayed here for some years until the death of Abraham's father. In 1943 B.C., 75-year old Abraham, Sarah, and Lot, together with their herds and flocks, left in a southeastern direction towards Canaan. After crossing the Euphrates, they reached the Holy Land and settled in Schechem (present day Nablus), about 50 kilometers north of Jerusalem. Here JHWH appeared to him for the second time and promised him that he would have numerous offspring who would play a vital role in world history and that would eventually gain possession of the country of Canaan.

Though Abraham and Sarah were already very old and childless, they believed their God unconditionally. When Abraham was already 99 years old and his wife 89, JHWH appeared to Abraham for the third time and told him that the two would get a son one year later. This son would form an important link on the way to a numerous offspring. Indeed, he was born one year later, in the year 1918 B.C. He was called Isaac.

When Isaac was 25 years old, JHWH put Abraham's faith to the test for the last time. He ordered Abraham to travel to a nearby mountain with his son Isaac. Abraham would have to kill and sacrifice Isaac for God. Isaac is the son on whom all hope for the fulfillment of God's promise of an enormous offspring was based. Convinced that God would fulfill His promise even after the death of Isaac, Abraham and Isaac went on their way. When Isaac had already been tied to the sacrificial wood and Abraham was about to cut his son's throat, God knew that His friend Abraham had perfect faith in Him as creator and in His intentions with the earth and mankind. He ordered Abraham to let his son live and to sacrifice a ram instead.

Abraham is one of the most important people whose life is described in the Bible. He had perfect faith in JHWH and was always prepared to do what God ordered him to do. He believed every promise that God made to him, no matter how improbable the fulfillment of the promise often seemed.

Throughout the Bible, Abraham's faith is presented as a great example for people of good will to follow. Abraham is the father of all people who possess faith in JHWH as well as His plans and intentions. Moreover, Abraham is the patriarch of God's people Israel. But even more important are the words which God spoke to Abraham after He had seen that Abraham did not hesitate to sacrifice his son to Him. On that occasion, God made Abraham a promise which is a sequel to the one which God expressed towards mankind after the Fall of Adam and Eve.

After the Fall, God promised mankind a seed: a person who would be born later in human history and would annihilate Satan as a being and all Satan's work. More than 2000 years later, God gave further details regarding this promise. He gave Abraham further information as regards the identity of this seed, this man who would be born later.

Literally, God said to Abraham (Genesis 22: 18): "by means of your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed. Because you have listened to my voice."

This means that Abraham was informed that the promised human being who would repair the damage done by Adam and Eve would be a descendant of himself. This information is still of utmost importance for all people who are looking for the truth today.

(It is very worthwhile to read the stories about Abraham, the promises made to him, his journey to Canaan, his military expedition to save Lot, his meeting with Melchizedek, his conversations with God and with angels, the destruction of Sodom, and a lot more in the Bible itself. These very exciting stories are to be found in Genesis 11: 27 up to and including chapter 23.)